Means for collectively transferring a plurality of stacked articles



A. J. STOL Get. 11, 1966 T2 IVELY TRANSFERRING A STACKED ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet l MEANS FOR COLLECT PLURALITY OF FilGd April 24, 1964 INVENTOR. MW

26 Z2 22 23 =4 y 2/ 4 24 BY) Z FIG. 2, MW

flmzw (WW) Oct. 11, 1966 A. J. STOLTZ 3,278,055

MEANS FOR COLLECTIVELY TRANSF'ERRING A PLURALITY OF STACKED ARTICLES Filed April 24, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS 2 INVENTOR.

BYMM dm/ Oct. 11, 1966 A.J. STOLTZ MEANS FOR COLLECTIVELY TRANSFERRING A PLURALITY OF STACKED ARTICLES Filed April 24, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 wmwafw M fifforne s United States Patent 3,278,055 MEANS FOR CGLLECTIVELY TRANSFERRING A PLUIRALITY 6F STACKED ARTICLES Andries Johannes Stoltz, 52 Harrington St, Brits, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa Filed Apr. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 364,354 Claims priority, application Republic of South Africa, Apr. 26, 1963, 63/1,800; June 5, 1963, 63/2,465 7 Claims. (Cl. 21477) This invention relates to means whereby a number of stacked articles may be collectively and simultaneously lifted and transferred from one position to another. More particularly, the invention is for an apparatus whereby bricks, blocks or like articles, capable of withstanding compressive forces, and stacked in an orderly state may be readily engaged for lifting, transporting and transferring for placement at another place and in the said stacked state.

According to the invention, an apparatus for holding and lifting a load of stacked articles for transference and transportation thereof includes, an open bottomed structure, means arranged horizontally at the bottom of the structure and movable across the open bottom, power devices associated with the means at the bottom of the structure for applying forced movement to the said means onto at least the bottom-most layer of stacked articles within the structure and adapted to rigidly press such articles onto one another for the formation of a surface supporting the rest of the stacked articles, and hoisting gear connecting means on the structure.

The means at the bottom of the structure and movable across the open bottom end for pressing onto the stacked articles includes resilient material stacked article engaging parts mounted for automatic orientation of their face portions in accordance with irregular and misaligned faces presented by the load forming articles.

The open bottom structure may be provided, near the bottom end, with at least one member which is relatively movable towards and away from at least one co-acting member disposed substantially parallel to the first member and also arranged near the bottom end of the structure, said movable member being connected to power devices for forcibly displacing said movable part towards and away from the co-acting member to obtain the pressing and retaining engagement on the lowermost layer of the stacked articles within the structure.

The structure, according to one form of the invention, includes spaced walls extending upwardly from the open bottom end of the structure and a horizontal beam member across one side of the bottom region of the structure. The beam member is bodily displaceable by power producing devices towards an oppositely disposed bottom end side of the structure to produce pressure from opposite sides onto the lowermost layer of stacked articles. On the said oppositely disposed bottom end side of the structure, a second horizontal beam member may be provided which is also bodily movable towards and away from the first mentioned beam member. The said beam member or members is or are guidingly associated with the bottom end region of the structure and has its or their ends attached to the power producing means for its or their displacement. Said power producing means are disposed on the structure exteriorly of the sides of the structure adjacent to the side or sides with which the beam member or members is or are associated.

In another form of the invention, the structure includes a pair of laterally spaced wall members, means for hingedly connecting the wall members together about an axis arranged outwardly of the space between said members,

3,278,055 Patented Oct. 11, 1966 inwardly protruding parts along the bottom marginal portion of at least one of the wall members, power means arranged for drawing the wall members towards one another with the inwardly protruding marginal part engaging tightly onto the lower part of a load disposed between such wall members for pressingly engaging and holding the bottom portion of the load.

The power operated means for forcibly moving the horizontally displaceable load engaging parts of the structure may comprise mechanical lever operated or screw devices, but preferably consist of hydraulic cylinders or rams.

The load engaging part or parts of the apparatus prefer-ably include pad-like protruding elements having resilient load engaging faces. Each of such elements may be independent swivelably disposed for automatic orientation to suit irregular and misaligned surfaces presented by the bottom region of the load, or more particularly, the bottom-most layer of stacked articles. The said padlike elements may be of inflatable and deflatable construction to facilitate the self-orientation of the load engaging faces. Alternatively, the pad-like elements may be attached on rigid material blocks which are pivotally and/ or swivelably mounted. Each block in turn may be engaged by resilient mounting devices which can be in the form of springs, pneumatic or hydraulic cushions or the like. Preferably, all or groups of the swivelably mounted blocks engage on pneumatic cushion-forming tubes.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings. Further features will be apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one form of stacked brick loading apparatus constructed according to the invention and shown superimposed over a stack of bricks;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan View of a beam movably associtaed with the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevation of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of a modified form of the apparatus;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of a further modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of FIGURE 6, showing the apparatus associated with a pivoted mounting structure;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged cross-section on line VIlI VIII of FIGURES 1 and 6;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross-section on line IXIX of FIGURE 7, not showing the hydraulic ram;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged detail of the encircled portion X of FIGURE 7, not showing the movable beam member; and

FIGURE 11 is an end view of a further modified form of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIGURE '12 shows a series of diagrammatic views of the operation of a vehicle provided with an apparatus as illustrated in FIGURES 6 to 10.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, consists of an upright Wall forming structure 1, which is of substantially wide U-cross-sectional shape and having a rear wall 2, side or flanking walls 3, and, optionally, a top panel 4, while the bottom end is open. The side walls 3 and the rear wall 2 are of metallic plate and exteriorly reinforced. On the exterior face of the rear Wall 2, and along the lower edge region, a beam 6 is rigidly secured, while on the outside of the side walls 3, and in spaced relationship to the bottom edges, further beams 7 are rigidly secured. Said beams 7 and beam 6 are rigidly connected together by their ends. The end regions of the beams 7 on the side walls 3, adjacent the bottom edges of said walls 3, provide mounting guides for a movable beam member 8.

From the centre regions of the beams 7 on the walls 3, upwardly directed strengthening members 5 extend which are fixed to the said beams 7 and the outer faces of the walls 3. Said members 5 may be further secured to the beams 7 by brace members 9, while to the members 5, bracket-like devices 10 may be provided for connection to hoist gear which is not shown. Other hoist gear connecting devices may be provided fixedly on the structure at other positions, depending on the hoist gear employed.

On the outer face of the rear wall 2 a number of parallel spaced elongated members (not shown) may be provided for moveable engagement on spaced rollers or runners of a co-acting frame or other structure associated, with the pivoted hoist gear whereby the structure 1, with or without the load, can be swung through an angle of 90, after lifting of the structure, to a transporting position when the said wall 2 then forms a support surface for the load.

As the walls of the U-section structure 1 conveniently consist of metal plate, the free edges of the walls 3 are preferably shaped outwardly projecting box-like formation as at 11 (see FIGURE 8) for strengthening purposes. The corners at the free bottom edges of walls 3 are provided with inwardly directed corner-shaped cut-out regions (see FIGURE 10) permitting movement of the movable beam member to a limited extent relative to walls 3.

The beam member 8 provides on its arm-like extension 13 which cover the cut-away regions 12 and incorporate means for guided movement along the beams 7 on the exterior bottom regions of the flanking walls 3. A bottom marginal portion of the walls 3 (and '2) may be outwardly sloping as at 14 (see FIGURE 9) to facilitate the lowering action of the structure 1 over a stack of bricks 15.

The beam member 8, which forms a transverse pressure bar, is movable to a predetermined extent along the beams 7 and across the open bottom end of the structure 1 for pressing engagement onto the lower region of the stack of bricks 15. The bricks are stacked to be, in respect of a horizontal cross-section of the stack, within the transverse measurements of the structure 1 when the beam member 8 is in its maximum outward-1y displaced position.

Attached to the ends of beam 6 and the outer faces of the arms 13 of beam member 8 on both sides and exteriorly of the structure 1, are hydraulic rams 18 whereby the movement of the beam member 8 towards and away from the beam 6 is forcibly effected. The inwardly directed longitudinal face of the beam member 8 is adapted to engage the lowermost course or courses of the stack of bricks 15. Preferably, only the lowermost course 19 of the bricks of stack is engageable by the beam member 8, and, in order to obtain a greater contacting area between the beam member 8, the bricks in said course 19 are arranged to stand on their ends in soldier course fashion, while the subsequent layers of bricks are laid substantially as in Wall building.

In order to compensate for uneven alignment of the vertical faces of the bricks of course 19, due to variation in the thicknesses of the bricks and irregular faces, the inwardly directed face of the beam 8 is provided with deformable and prefer-ably resilient facing means. Such means, in one form of construction, is in the form of pads of a material presenting a good frictional and nonslidable pressing engagement on the exposed brick faces. Such pads may be of a material-like thick rubber or the like. Across the faces of the said pads, recesses may be provided for increased non slipping engagement on the bricks.

In a modified form, the resilient load engaging facing elements may be of inflatable and deflatable construction.

The preferred means of the resilient load engaging elements is illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. In this form of construction the beam member 8 is of substantially channel construction and comprises an elongated web forming plate 20 having top and bottom flange plates 21 which are directed in the direction of the arms 13 and towards the co-acting beam 6. The free edge regions of the flanges 21 are connected at regular spaced intervals by rigidly fixed posts 22 which may be of channel-like cross-sectional shape. In each of the similar upright vertical spaces between the posts 22 a gripping block 23 is located in free tilting fashion.

On flat outwardly directed faces of the blocks 23 rubber or like resilient material pads 24 are fixed, either by bonding and/or by means of counter sunk or recessed bolts and screws. On the opposite face of each block 24 transversely protruding lips 25 are provided which engage behind the inwardly directed faces of the posts 22 and which, on engagement of the post 22, limit the extent of outward projection of the blocks beyond the outwardly directed faces of the posts 22. The length of each block 23 is slightly less than the height of the spacing between the flanges 21 to permt lateral tilting. The transverse longitudinal faces 26 of eachblock 23 are of convex curved formation permitting swinging of the block 23 within the space between posts 22 substantially about its axis.

Engaging against the inside face of the web 20 of beam member 8 are a pair of pneumatic cushions 27 against which the faces of the lips 25 of the blocks 23 are in bearing engagement. Said pneumatic cushions 27 are engaged by all the blocks 23. Each pneumatic cushion 27 preferably consists of a length of pressure hose of which the ends are closed off by plugs 28, while in one of the plugs of each hose a valve control air inlet 29 is provided which extends outwardly of the beam member 8 for inflating of the cushion to a required pressure. Preferably, in at least one end of the beam member 8, an opening is provided for insertion and removal of the air cushions 27. Said opening is closed 01f by a cover 30.

In operation, after lowering the structure 1 over the pile of bricks 15, the hydraulic cylinders 18, which are connected to the usual hydraulic pump through control valve means according to known practice, are operated for bodily drawing the beam member 8 onto the lowermost course 19 of the stacked bricks. The rear wall 2 is firstly drawn onto the opposite face of the stack whereafter the said course 19 is forced onto the lowest region of the wall 2 across the outside of which the beam 6 is situated. The bricks of the course 19 are then forced pressingly onto one another and onto the rear wall and in rigid engagement to form a floor on which the rest of the bricks of the stack are supported for lifting. The air pressure in the pneumatic cushions 27 may be controlled to suit the load which is to be pressed together. The pressure may vary from 10 to lbs. per square inch, but as an average, for use on bricks, it was found that a pressure of 35 lbs. per square inch is suflicient for a stack of 1000 to 1500 bricks.

If desired, resilient material pad means may be provided across the lower regions of the internal face of rear wall 2 of structure 1, if particularly desired.

Other forms of resilient load engaging parts associated with the beam member and, if desired, the complementary face region of wall 2, may comprise, pneumatic or hydraulic hose members on which pads are provided, pads and/or blocks separately operated by hydraulic cylinders or mounted on spring means, on vacuum diaphragm means, air or hydraulic cylinders and/ or the like.

According to the modification, shown in FIGURE 5, two beam members 8 are provided on and along opposite sides and adjacent the bottom of the structure 1 for applying pressure on the lowest course 19 of a stack of bricks 15, simultaneously from opposite directions.

In a further modified form an additional beam members 8a may be provided transversely across the open side of the structure 1a in order to subject one or more intermediate courses of a stack of bricks to a transversely directed holding pressure in order to relieve the lower beam member 8. The upper beam member 8a is operated by separate hydraulic cylinders 18a and is preferably controlled by separate controls. The said beam member 8a also provides the arms 13 and is operative along recesses 12a provided on the edge portions of side wall 3a. More additional beam members may be provided if desired or required.

The modification of the invention, shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 12, is particularly suitable for receiving and holding two similar stacks of bricks 15 and 15a in one structure and which are to be loaded and unloaded as two separate stacks. For this purpose the structure In is movably mounted on a carrying frame 31 (shown only in FIGURE 7), which in turn is pivotally mounted about pivot axle 32 on the chassis 32a of a vehicle 3217. The carrying frame 31 is transferable through 90 from horizontal position 31a to vertical position 31a and vice versa, by means of a hydraulic ram or rams 33 attached at one end to the frame 31 and at the other end to the chassis 32a. The movement of the structure 1a along the carrying frame 31 is preferably also by means of hydraulic rams 34 so that, in the upright position of the carrying frame 31 the structure 1a, may be displaced in a vertical direction as shown by arrow 1a.

Referring now in particular to FIGURE 12, FIGURE 12a shows a vehicle 3212 with the carrying frame 31 and the structure In in the horizontal position on the vehicle. The vehicle is driven up to a position close to a first stack 15, as shown in FIGURE 12b, and then the carrying frame 31 and the structure 1a are moved into the vertical position by means of the hydraulic ram 33. The by draulic ram 34 is then operated causing structure In to slide vertically downwardly in the frame 31 so as to cover the first stack of bricks 15. (See FIGURE 120.) The beam member 8 is then operated and thereby the first stack 15 of bricks is held in the structure 1a.

Referring to FIGURE 12d, the structure 1a is lifted upwardly by means of the ram 34 and the vehicle is then driven as is shown in FIGURE 12c, to a position close to the second stack of bricks 15a. Here the structure 1a is lowered again onto the second stack 15a and as soon as the lower layer of the first stack 15 comes into contact with the upper layer of the second stack 15a, the beam 8 is released and as the structure 1a moves further downwardly the upper part of the structure in passes over the first stack 15. Finally, both the beam members 8 and 8a are forceably drawn inwardly by their respective hydraulic rams 18 and 18a to perform their respective holding functions on the two superimposed stacks of bricks 15 and 15a. Referring to FIGURE 12g, the structure 1a is then lifted upwardly and then the ram 33 is operated so as to move the structure In and the frame 31 to the horizontal position on the vehicle 32b. The stacks of bricks are then transported to where required, and then unloaded in the reverse fashion in which they were loaded. This is done by moving the carrying frame 31 and structure In to the vertical position. The structure is lowered relative to the upright carrying frame 31 until it engages a floor or the ground surface. The beam members 8 and 8a are then released for freeing the superimposed stacks of bricks. The structure 1a is then raised to a position just above the top of the first stack of bricks, whereafter the beam member 8 is again actuated for clamping the upper first stack of bricks. The first stack of bricks is then lifted clear off the second stack of bricks. The vehicle is then moved away to where required. The structure 1a is again lowered to the floor surface for release of the first stack of bricks held thereon. Thereafter the structure 1a is raised and 6 the carrying frame 31 returned to the horizontal transporting position.

The structure 1a is provided with transverse and, if required, longitudinally arranged beams 6, 6a with which slides, roller tracks or rollers are associated for engaging runners incorporated in the cradle frame 31.

In a still further modified form of the invention, see FIGURE 11, the structure 1b consists of a pair of laterally spaced wall members 35 connected to vertical limbs of robust inverted L-shaped members 36 which have the upper arms 37 pivotally connected together along a common shaft 38 which is in spaced relationship above and centrally between the wall spaced members 35. With the shaft 38 hoist gear connecting means 39 is provided. The lower ends of the vertical arms 40 of the L-shaped levers are connected by hydraulic rams 18.

Along the bottom regions of the wall members 35, inwardly directed resilient and/ or frictional load engaging face forming parts 41 are provided for engaging the load in non-slipping fashion. Such parts 41 may be in the form of pads or blocks of rubber or like material. Each block or pad may be mounted in swivelable or pivotal fashion for self-orientation when engaging a load of which the surface or collective surfaces are irregular.

If desired the inwardly directed faces of member 35 may be lined with resilient material or may mount over their full surfaces such blocks or pads. Two opposed sides of a stack may thus be engaged over their full surfaces.

Said parts 41 may also be of inflatable and deflatable construction for load engaging purposes. S aid part 41 of at least one of the wall members 35 may be in accordance with the construction of the beam member 8 shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

Where separate pads or blocks are provided on one or both the wall members 35, such pads or blocks are advantageously mounted by bolt and/or socket means.

On the ends of the wall members 35, flanking walls 42 may be provided for retaining bricks or the like against dropping from the ends of the structure 121. Such walls 42 may be arranged to be movable past one another in respect of the free edge portions thereof.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for holding and lifting stacked articles comprising a structure defining a cavity within which a stack of articles is receivable and having an open bottom part and an engaging face along one side of the bottom part, holding means arranged to be movable across at least part of said open bottom part towards and away from the engaging face, said holding means comprising a holding beam, a plurality of gripping members spaced in series along said holding beam, said gripping members having grip-ping faces facing towards said engaging face, and having laterally projecting side flanges, locating means to locate said gripping members relative to said beam and to each other to permit free tilting of said gripping faces including a series of posts fast with said beam overlapping adjacent side flanges of adjacent gripping members, resilient cushion means between said holding beam and said gripping members, and a control power device operatively connected to said holding beam for displacing it across said bottom part of said structure towards and away from said engaging face, whereby in operation said holding beam is displaced across said bottom part to cause said gripping faces of said gripping members to come into abutment with and to grip the lower course of a plurality of articles stacked in courses within the structure, between said gripping members and said engaging face, the upper courses of articles resting on the lower gripped course, said locating means allowing the individual gripping members to tilt against said resilient cushion means to compensate for unevenness of the surfaces of the gripped articles.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the gripping face of each gripping member is substantially flat and resilient and in which each gripping member has a central body part having opposite sides of convex shape, said sides being capable of rolling or sliding against the sides of said posts, thereby permitting the free tilting of the gripping faces of the gripping members.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim l, in which said resilient cushion means comprises a pneumatically inflatable tube of resilient material.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said engaging face of the structure comprises a resilient layer.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said engaging face comprises a second holding beam, a plurality of additional gripping members spaced in series along said second holding beam, said additional gripping members having gripping faces facing towards said holding beam of said holding means, and having laterally projecting side flanges, a second locating means to locate said additional gripping members relative to said second holding beam and to each other to permit free tilting of said gripping faces on said additional gripping members and comprising a series of further posts fast with said second holding beam and overlapping the side flanges of adjacent additional gripping members, and a second resilient cushion means between said second holding beam and said additional gripping members.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which two spaced holding means are provided on the structure, one being vertically aligned above the other, for holding two superimposed stacks of articles.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a carrying frame carrying said structure, said carrying frame having mounting means for pivotally mounting said frame on a vehicle about an axis through at least 90 from a position on the vehicle to a position in which said open bottom part of the structure is above a stack of articles, said carrying frame having guide means for guiding the structure linearly within it, hoist means for displacing the structure relatively to the carrying frame, and tilting means for tilting the carrying frame about its pivotal axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,247,168 6/1941 Fontaine 29463 2,666,663 1/1954 McDonough 294113 X 2,687,224 8/1954 Fontaine 214-147 2,735,713 2/1956 Blakeley 29467 2,768,018 10/1956 Ehmann 29463 2,832,629 4/1958 Anderson 29463 2,896,994 7/1959 Fischer 294-63 3,030,138 4/1962 Bennet 29463 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND LIFTING STACKED ARTICLES COMPRISING A STRUCTURE DEFINING A CAVITY WITHIN WHICH A STACK OF ARTICLES IS RECEIVABLE AND HAVING AN OPEN BOTTOM PART AND AN ENGAGING FACE ALONG ONE SIDE OF THE BOTTOM PART, HOLDING MEANS ARRANGED TO BE MOVABLE ACROSS AT LEAST PART OF SAID OPEN BOTTOM PART TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM THE ENGAGING FACE, SAID HOLDING MEANS COMPRISING A HOLDING BEAM, A PLURALITY OF GRIPPING MEMBERS SPACED IN SERIES ALONG SAID HOLDING BEAM, SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS HAVING GRIPPING FACES FACING TOWARDS SAID ENGAGING FACE, AND HAVING LATERALLY PROJECTING SIDE FALNGES, LOCATING MEANS TO LOCATE SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS RELATIVE TO SAID BEAM AND TO EACH OTHER TO PERMIT FREE TILTING OF SAID GRIPPING FACES INCLUDING A SERIES OF POSTS FAST WITH SAID BEAM OVERLAPPING ADJACENT SIDE FLANGES OF ADJACENT GRIPPING MEMBERS, RESILIENT CUSHION MEANS BETWEEN SAID HOLDING BEAM AND SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS, AND A CONTROL POWER DEVICE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID HOLDING BEAM FOR DISPLACING IT ACROSS SAID BOTTOM PART OF SAID STRUCTURE TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM SAID ENGAGING FACE, WHEREBY IN OPERATION SAID HOLDING BEAM IS DISPLACED ACROSS SAID BOTTOM PART TO CAUSE SAID GRIPPING FACES OF SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS TO COME INTO ABUTMENT WITH AND TO GRIP THE LOWER COURSE OF A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES STACKED IN COURSES WITHIN THE STRUCTURE, BETWEEN SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS AND SAID ENGAGING FACE, THE UPPER COURSES OF ARTICLES RESTING ON THE LOWER GRIPPED COURSE, SAID LOCATING MEANS ALLOWING THE INDIVIDUAL GRIPPING MEMBERS TO TILT AGAINST SAID RESILIENT CUSHION MEANS TO COMPENSATE FOR UNEVENNESS OF THE SURFACES OF THE GRIPPED ARTICLES. 